Bring Playground Activity Leaders in Schools (PALS) to Your School

Playground Activity Leaders in Schools (PALS) is a fun student leadership program for elementary students. Older students (Junior and Intermediate grades) are trained to lead safe, inclusive, active games for younger students during recess.

Here’s how it works:

• School staff are trained by their local School Health public health nurse to become PALS facilitators.
• These trained facilitators then teach and support student leaders in their school.
• The student leaders help create an inclusive and active school yard by inviting everyone to join in the fun.

The program promotes inclusion by making sure everyone feels welcome to join the fun. The motto of the program is “there’s always room for one more!” PALS helps build a school community where all students feel a sense of belonging while feeling safe and accepted.

Student Health Benefits

The PALS program supports the health and well-being by:

Building student leadership skills

Older students (Junior and Intermediate grades) can grow as leaders by:

• Solving problems using positive communication, cooperation, and compromise
•  Learning to be responsible, helpful role models on the playground while building confidence.

These are important life skills that help students in and out of school.

Increasing students’ sense of belonging and inclusion

When students feel like they belong, they’re more likely to be happy and do well at school. PALS helps build a positive and welcoming school yard by:

• Encouraging sharing, teamwork, and respect
• Helping younger students feel included in safe and fun game
• Supporting bullying prevention by creating caring, respectful relationships between students

A positive school climate happens when everyone feels safe, included, and accepted. 

Increasing physical activity and physical literacy

PALS gets students moving in fun ways while building their physical confidence. Through a variety of games and activities, students can:

• Practice fundamental movement skills (like running, jumping, or throwing)
• Learn simple game rules and strategies
• Develop confidence and motivation to stay active

Being active supports students’ physical, social, emotional, and mental development.

Teaching and Learning

The PALS program helps students build confidence, manage emotions, develop empathy, and strengthen relationships all while promoting physical activity and physical literacy. 

To see how physical literacy is embedded in the Vision and Goals of the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum, access: Health and Physical Education (gov.on.ca).

Resources Required

Schools will need to identify at least one staff or volunteer to facilitate the PALS program.

We provide access to facilitator training and downloadable resources to support implementation of the PALS program, including:

• Facilitator Handbook and Student Training Guide 
• Student Leader Handbook 
• Games Book 
• Forms and Certificates

These PALS program resources were created and approved for use only within Ontario. 

The PALS games have been designed to be played with no equipment, objects found in the natural environment, and some equipment commonly found in schools (e.g. balls, skipping ropes, hula hoops, etc.).

Schools may choose to purchase additional equipment to enhance their PALS program, if desired.

Contact Us

For more information or to access services, contact your local School Health public health nurse. You can also contact the health unit at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 or by completing our secure online Request for Service Form.

Updated: August 22, 2025